Others cite the example of the Poseidonia coins, overlooking the much weightier evidence presented by the numerous surviving statuettes of Zeus launching his thunderbolt in a pose matching that of the Artemision figure.

Iconographic parallels with coins and vase painting from the same time period show that this obscuring pose is extremely unlikely.

On the other hand, the statue is essentially a larger version of an extensive series of smaller solid bronze figurines extending back into the late 7th century, all of which strike the same pose and represent Zeus.

The iconography of Ancient Greek pottery typically portrays Poseidon wielding his trident in combat in more of a stabbing motion, similar to a fencing stance or an 'advance-lunge'; see for example 'Poseidon and the Giant Polybotes', an Attic red-figure stamnos attributed to the Troilos Painter.

Discussions concerning its provenance have found champions for most of the Greek mainland centers technically capable of such a large-scale sculpture: Attica— where Christos Karouzos[10] associates it with Kalamis (around 470–440 BCE) — Boeotia, Aegina, Sicyon or Argos.

Many such shipwrecks are of Roman date and were of vessels looting Greek art to Italy, but it is unclear whether the Artemision wreck is one of these.